The wind whipped Catherine's hair into a tangled mess. She gripped the thick, smooth scales beneath her thighs, her knuckles turning white. The giant black snake moved with impossible speed and smoothness, gliding over massive fallen logs and weaving through dense thickets without jostling her once.

Suddenly, the claustrophobic canopy of the forest broke open.

Catherine blinked against the sudden moonlight. Below a towering cliff face, a sprawling settlement appeared. It was a chaotic mix of massive stone caves carved directly into the rock and sturdy wooden cabins built on the ground.

The snake slowed down, slithering toward the edge of the settlement.

A flash of silver light blinded Catherine for a second. The solid scales beneath her vanished, replaced by hard, hot muscle. Amon caught her perfectly in his arms before she could fall, his human form fully restored.

He stood at the edge of the clearing, holding her tight against his chest.

A group of heavily muscled men patrolling the perimeter stopped dead in their tracks. When they looked at Amon, Catherine saw naked disgust and hostility flash across their faces.

But then, their eyes shifted to Catherine.

Every single man in the patrol inhaled sharply. The air suddenly felt thick, heavy with a suffocating, aggressive energy.

Catherine shrank back against Amon's chest. Her modern clothes were torn and dirty, but her pale skin, delicate features, and the sheer novelty of her appearance acted like a magnet. The men stared at her with unblinking, ravenous hunger.

Amon's body turned to stone.

His jaw locked. A low, vibrating snarl ripped from his throat. It wasn't a human sound. It was the warning hiss of a lethal predator. He shifted his stance, pulling Catherine tighter against him, burying her face in his chest to hide her from their view.

The sheer pressure of Amon's aura hit the patrol men like a physical blow. They stumbled backward, their faces pale, but their greedy eyes kept darting toward the sliver of Catherine's leg visible beneath Amon's arm.

The commotion drew attention. A large group of people hurried out of the central stone building.

At the front was an older, heavily scarred man wearing an elaborate fur cloak. This was Barrett Vance, the tribe chief.

Barrett's eyes sharpened. He stepped forward quickly but maintained a steady, authoritative stride. Instead of rushing directly at Catherine, he barked an order over his shoulder to his guards: "Get Silas over here, now. Have him check this female's condition!"

Amon's arms tightened around Catherine until it almost hurt. He took a step back, his golden eyes flashing with violent refusal. He didn't want anyone touching her.

But Catherine winced, her injured ankle throbbing from the sudden movement. Amon felt her flinch. His jaw ticked. He forced himself to stop moving, his chest heaving with the effort to suppress his instincts.

A young man pushed through the crowd. He had soft features, gentle brown eyes, and a nervous energy about him. He carried a woven pouch smelling of crushed leaves. This was Silas Frye, the panda shifter healer.

Silas approached Amon, his eyes glued to the ground. When he got close enough to smell the sweet, pure scent radiating from Catherine, his face flushed a deep, violent red. His hands started to shake.

He knelt awkwardly by Amon's leg. "I... I just need to check her ankle," Silas stammered.

Amon growled, a low rumble of warning, but he slightly shifted his grip, allowing Silas access to her foot.

Silas extended his trembling fingers. A soft, pale green light bloomed from his fingertips. He gently hovered his hand over Catherine's swollen ankle.

Catherine watched in shock. The pain instantly vanished, replaced by a soothing, cool sensation. Real magic.

Silas closed his eyes, his brow furrowing as he concentrated. A moment later, the green light faded. He stood up, looking at Barrett.

"She is not severely injured. Just a sprain," Silas reported, his voice tinged with awe and pity. "But... her body is incredibly fragile. There is absolutely no energy fluctuation within her. She has no ability. She is like a flower that could snap in a strong wind."

Silas pulled his hand back, his eyes wide with a mixture of reverence and deep concern. To the surrounding males, her utter lack of magical signature didn't signify weakness-it signaled a profound, almost sacred purity that demanded their absolute protection.

Instead of disappointment, the crowd of males erupted into a low, excited murmur. The absolute lack of power triggered their deepest, most primal protective instincts.

Barrett's eyes burned with ambition. He stepped right up to Amon and reached out, trying to grab Catherine's hand. "Beautiful female, welcome to the Giant Rock Tribe. I am Chief Barrett."

Before Barrett's fingers could even brush her skin, Amon's hand shot out. He slapped Barrett's hand away with a loud, vicious crack.

Amon stepped completely in front of Catherine, shielding her with his massive back.

Barrett's face twisted in fury. He pointed a thick finger at Amon's chest. "Amon! You cursed, cold-blooded monster! Step aside! Don't terrify the precious female with your foul presence!"

The words hit Amon like a physical strike.

Catherine saw the immediate reaction. Amon's broad shoulders slumped a fraction of an inch. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned stark white. The violent energy radiating from him vanished, replaced by a suffocating, heavy wave of self-hatred and shame. He didn't say a word. He just stood there, taking the insult.

A younger man, built like a tank, shoved his way to the front. It was Jett, the chief's son. He raked his eyes over Catherine's hidden form. "Father is right. She's too fragile. She needs the strongest male to protect her and give her strong cubs. I am the best choice."

Instantly, the plaza devolved into chaos. Males started shouting, flexing their muscles, some even partially transforming their arms into bear claws or wolf paws, roaring to prove their strength to her.

The noise was deafening. The aggressive, suffocating testosterone in the air made Catherine's stomach churn.

She looked at Amon's back. He was trembling. The temperature around him was plummeting, frost forming on the dirt beneath his bare feet. He was a second away from snapping.

Catherine's heart pounded. A hot, fierce anger ignited in her chest. She hated bullies. And she hated that the man who had just saved her life was being treated like garbage.

She took a deep breath. She reached out and grabbed Amon's tightly clenched fist.

Amon flinched violently. He whipped his head around, his golden eyes wide with shock as he stared at her small, pale hand wrapping around his rough, scarred fingers.

Catherine stepped out from behind his back. She locked eyes with Barrett, then swept her gaze over the screaming crowd.

"I don't need any of you," Catherine said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the noise like a knife. "He saved my life when I was about to be eaten. I am staying with him."

Dead silence slammed down on the plaza.

Every male stared at Catherine as if she had just lost her mind. A fragile, precious female choosing a cursed snake shifter? It broke every rule of their reality.

Amon's hand flipped over. He gripped Catherine's hand back. His grip was almost painfully tight, his fingers trembling against her skin. The golden slits of his eyes dilated, swirling with a dark, obsessive heat.

Barrett's face turned the color of bruised plum. He slashed his hand through the air. "Absurd! You don't know what you are saying! You don't know how cold-blooded and selfish snake shifters are!"

He pointed a thick, accusing finger at Amon. "They have no emotions! Their rutting season makes them violent and insane! He doesn't know how to care for a fragile female. He will break you!"

The crowd of males roared in agreement, hurling vicious insults at Amon's bloodline.

Monster. Cold-blooded freak. Killer.

Amon's body went rigid. The air pressure around them dropped drastically. Black scales began to push through the skin on his neck, his beast form fighting to break free under the weight of his rage. The ground beneath his feet cracked.

Catherine felt the cold sweat on Amon's palm. She squeezed his hand harder, trying to anchor him.

She glared at Barrett, her chin tilted up. "All I know is that when I was about to die, he was the one who fought for me. Where were all of you?"

The words slapped the crowd into silence. Jett's face flushed red, and he awkwardly stepped back into the throng of men.

Barrett took a deep breath, his chest puffing out as he tried to regain control. He forced a sickeningly sweet smile onto his face. "Beautiful female, you are new here. You don't understand our laws. By tribal rule, a new, unbonded female must have her mates assigned by the Chief to ensure her safety."

He gestured to two massive men standing nearby, both covered in tribal tattoos. "These are tiger shifters. They are the strongest. They are the best choice to protect you and give you powerful cubs."

A terrifying, inhuman hiss ripped from Amon's throat.

His right arm completely transformed. Thick, black scales covered his skin, and his fingers elongated into razor-sharp, lethal claws. He threw himself in front of Catherine, his golden eyes burning with a suicidal fury.

"She said she chose me," Amon snarled. His voice sounded like it was scraping over broken glass. It was the sound of a man ready to burn the world down.

The two tiger shifters instantly dropped into a fighting stance. Their hands morphed into massive, fur-covered paws with unsheathed claws. Low growls vibrated in their chests.

Blood was about to be spilled. Catherine knew Amon was strong, but if he killed the Chief's men, they would never survive in this world.

Without thinking, Catherine stepped around Amon. She planted herself directly between his lethal claws and the two tiger shifters.

She stared dead into Barrett's eyes. Her hands were shaking, but she forced her voice to stay steady. "If your tribe's rule is forcing me to do something against my will, then I will leave this tribe right now."

The crowd gasped.

A female with no abilities leaving the safety of the tribe was a guaranteed death sentence. But to Barrett, losing a female was the ultimate failure. Females were the rarest, most vital resource for their survival and evolution.

Barrett's confident mask cracked. Panic flashed in his eyes.

"Don't be reckless!" Barrett quickly raised his hands in surrender. He gritted his teeth, swallowing his pride. "Fine. If you insist, you can stay in Amon's cave for now. But the rule stands: until you are marked, every male in this tribe has the right to court you."

Catherine knew that was the best deal she was going to get. She gave a curt, cold nod.

Amon didn't wait for another word. He turned, scooped Catherine up into his arms, and walked away. His long strides ate up the distance as he headed toward the steep cliff face at the edge of the settlement.

As they walked past the wooden cabins, female shifters peeked out from their doorways. Their eyes were filled with toxic jealousy.

A female with bright red hair, standing outside a cave near the cliff, sneered loudly. Catherine noticed the way the red-haired female's gaze lingered on Amon's broad back for a fraction of a second-a toxic mix of lingering obsession and bitter rejection-before she turned her venomous glare toward Catherine. "A pretty face means nothing if she's stupid. Choosing that cold-blooded freak... she'll be tortured to death during his rut."

Amon's steps faltered. His spine turned to steel. He didn't turn his head, but Catherine felt the violent shudder that wrecked his massive frame. He started walking faster.

Catherine rested her head against his hard chest. She reached up and lightly touched his jaw. "Don't listen to them. I trust you."

Amon's Adam's apple bobbed hard. He pulled her tighter against him, burying his face in her hair as he carried her up the rocky path.

They reached a large, natural cave carved into the cliffside. It was isolated from the rest of the tribe.

Amon walked inside and gently set Catherine down on a wide stone bed covered in thick, soft animal furs. He pulled his hands back immediately, as if her skin burned him.

He dropped to his knees beside the bed. The terrifying, lethal predator from the plaza was gone.

He looked up at her. His golden eyes were wide, swimming with a crippling, agonizing vulnerability. His jaw ticked as he struggled to force the words out.

"Do you..." Amon's voice broke. "Do you really not hate me?"

Catherine looked down at this massive, powerful man kneeling before her, looking at her like she was his entire world. Her chest ached. She reached out, placing her hand gently on his cheek, and nodded.

The moment Catherine nodded, the fragile control Amon was holding onto shattered.

The raw, desperate heat in his golden eyes flared into a raging inferno. His breathing turned ragged, his chest heaving as he stared at her. He leaned into the touch of her hand on his cheek, his eyes fluttering shut for a fraction of a second before snapping open again.

He reached up. His large, calloused fingers gently wrapped around her ankle, his thumb lightly stroking the sensitive skin above her heel.

"Then..." Amon's voice was a dark, gravelly whisper that sent a jolt straight to Catherine's core. "When can we mate? When can I give you my beast mark?"

Catherine's brain short-circuited.

Mate?

The blunt, biological brutality of the word hit her like a bucket of ice water. Her face burned hot. Panic, sharp and sudden, spiked in her chest. She instinctively jerked her leg back, pulling her ankle out of his grasp.

"M-mate? !" she stammered, scrambling backward on the fur bed until her spine hit the cold stone wall of the cave. She pulled her knees to her chest, her eyes wide with alarm.

Amon froze.

He saw the fear in her eyes. He saw her shrink away from him.

The fire in his eyes died instantly, replaced by a crushing, suffocating darkness. He snatched his hand back as if he had been burned. He dropped his gaze to the stone floor, his broad shoulders hunching forward.

"I apologize," Amon said. His voice was completely hollow. "I was too aggressive. I frightened you."

Seeing him look like a kicked dog made a sharp pang of guilt twist in Catherine's stomach. She quickly waved her hands. "No, it's not you. It's just... we literally just met. Mating is... it's too fast."

Amon looked up, confusion warring with the self-hatred in his eyes. "In the Shifter World, when a female chooses a male, they form the bond that night. But..." He swallowed hard, his jaw clenching. "I can wait. I will wait until you are willing."

He stood up abruptly, his movements stiff and jerky. He needed to get out of the cave before his instincts made him do something unforgivable.

"You must be starving," Amon said, not meeting her eyes. "I will go into the forest. I will hunt the most tender meat for you."

Before Catherine could say another word, he turned and practically fled the cave. A flash of silver light illuminated the entrance, and the giant black snake slithered rapidly down the cliff face.

Catherine let out a long, shaky breath. She was alone.

The adrenaline crash hit her hard. Her stomach let out a loud, painful rumble. She looked around the cave. It was clean but incredibly bare. There was a stone fire pit, a few clay pots, and the fur bed. No food.

Then, she remembered the mechanical voice in her head.

Eternal Space unlocked. Newcomer gift package delivered.

Catherine closed her eyes. She focused her mind and thought the words: Open Space.

Instantly, her consciousness was pulled into a massive, glowing white void. Floating in the center of the void was a golden package. She mentally reached out and touched it.

The package exploded into a shower of light.

Dozens of items materialized and stacked themselves neatly in the void. Cases of bottled water. Boxes of protein bars. First aid kits. A pile of modern, durable clothing. And right in the front, a large box of premium chocolate bars.

Catherine almost cried with relief. She mentally selected a bottle of water and a chocolate bar.

She opened her eyes. The items were sitting right in her lap.

She unscrewed the cap and chugged half the bottle, the cool, purified water soothing her raw throat. Then, she ripped open the chocolate wrapper and took a massive bite. The rich, sugary sweetness flooded her senses, melting away the terror and exhaustion of the past few hours. She let out a soft groan of pure bliss.

Just as she took another bite, the sound of crunching footsteps and hushed voices drifted into the cave from outside.

Catherine froze. She quickly shoved the remaining chocolate and the water bottle under the thick furs on the bed. She crept quietly toward the cave entrance and pressed herself against the shadows of the stone wall.

Outside, a group of females had gathered in the small clearing near Amon's cave. The red-haired female, Brooke, was standing in the center, her arms crossed.

"I bet that human female is in there crying her eyes out," Brooke sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "Amon is such a freak, he probably doesn't even know how to build a proper fire."

"Exactly," another female chimed in. "Without other males to provide for her, she's going to starve. Or worse, Amon's rut will hit and he'll tear her apart. She'll be begging the Chief to take her away by tomorrow."

Catherine listened to the venomous gossip. Her jaw tightened.

She looked down at her torn, muddy clothes and her dirt-streaked hands. She wasn't going to let these women think she was a victim.

She stepped back into the cave, opened her Eternal Space, and pulled out a pack of wet wipes and a clean, fitted black t-shirt and dark cargo pants from the gift package. She quickly stripped off her ruined clothes, wiped the blood and mud from her face and arms, and pulled on the fresh clothes. She used her fingers to comb the tangles out of her hair, letting it fall in soft waves over her shoulders.

She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders.

Catherine stepped out of the shadows of the cave and walked directly into the sunlight.

The sunlight caught the pale perfection of her skin and the fierce, confident spark in her eyes. She stood at the edge of the cliff, looking down at the gossiping females. A cool, condescending smile played on her lips.

The voices cut off instantly.

Brooke's mouth dropped open. The other females stared in stunned, horrified silence. Catherine didn't look like a broken, starving victim. She looked like a goddess who had just descended from the sky.

A group of single males walking past the clearing stopped dead. The dead animals they were carrying slipped from their hands, hitting the dirt with a heavy thud. They stared at Catherine, completely mesmerized.